ELAM B. WINGER, the "windmill man," is one of that class of men to whom the country is indebted for the upbuilding of her cities. It is an established fact in this country, that no town or city can reach large dimensions unless it is the seat of manufacturing interests, and any man, or set of men, who invest their money in manufacturing enterprises in a town, city, or even a village, but be looked upon as benefactors. As manufacturing increases, so does population. As population increases, so does the volume of all kinds of business. The man who establishes a factory that will employ 100 heads of families, creates a demand for that number of additional houses to accommodate them, which means the sale of a corresponding number of lots, and the employment of the different mechanics required in the construction of these houses. When they are completed, their value goes upon the tax duplicates of the city and county, and the wealth of both is added to that much. Manufacturers not only help towns, but they make towns, and in the making of Freeport such manufacturers as E. B. Winger have been no small factor.

Elam B. Winger was born in Lancaster County, Pa., near the city of Lancaster, on the 24th of September, 1837. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Buckwalter) Winger, who settled in Franklin County, Pa., when he was a child two years of age. The mother died in Franklin County in 1879; the father is still living in that county. During Elam B.'s youth, he assisted his father upon the farm in summer, and attended the common schools in winter. He made the best of his opportunities, and when he had attained to manhood, he was better equipped in the matter of knowledge of mathematics and other branches of knowledge which would be useful in after life, than most young men whose graduation was from the common schools. Soon after attaining his majority, he opened a store in Greencastle, Franklin Co., Pa., a business which he conducted successfully there and in Clay Lick and Quincy for fourteen years, at the end of which time he concluded to try his fortunes in the West. In 1877 he came to Freeport, where he at once entered upon the manufacture of the Stover Windmill, which he continued until 1882, when the present company was organized and incorporated, as the Freeport Machine Company. During these years his efforts have been attended with good success.

Mr. Winger was married, April 18, 1861, to Elizabeth B. Stover, a sister of D. C. Stover, of this city, the well-known inventor, who was born in Greencastle, Pa. They have had four children: Oswald E., who is an inventive genius, and who has already produced some valuable inventions, took a thorough course in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, of New York, and was graduated in the class of 1886; the others are, Frank S., Harry E. and Clarence A. The family of Mr. Winger lives in a brick residence at the west end of Stephenson street. It is surrounded with extensive lawns, driveways and walks, which are shaded by native and ornamental trees. Every surrounding of the place indicates general comfort as well as elegance.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 679